Othello wholeheartedly trusts Iago because of the relationship that they have. Othello is a general of the Venetian army and Iago is soldier under his command. When fighting in a war, a general has to trust his soldiers to win the battle and protect him. In Othello’s eyes, Iago is one of his most trusted soldiers because Iago has followed all the commands from Othello perfectly. In Iago’s view since he has followed all the orders from Othello and has been on his side during the harsh times, he thought he would get something in return as reward for all his hard work in the military. Iago was hoping to be offered lieutenant 's position after all his has done for Othello. But Iago’s life took a drastic change when Othello made a person with no military experience his lieutenant while Iago was made the flag bearer. This angered Iago the most because it was his dream to be the lieutenant and that’s all he wanted his entire life and when he didn’t get the lieutenant’s post even after he deserved it, Iago’s ego was hurt. We get to see Iago’s true face when he says “In following him, I follow but myself- / Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, / But seeming so, for my peculiar end.”(Shakespeare 1.1.60-62) This quote is telling us that the only reason for Iago following Othello is so he can benefit himself. It’s clear that Iago wanted …show more content…
In the beginning of the story we see that Othello is confident about his position and relationship with Desdemona when he says "I fetch my life and being / From men of royal siege.”(I, II, 421-422 Othello feels very confident about himself, he says that he is descended from man who were kings and he deserves Desdemona. But to bring Othello down, Iago starts talking about his insecurity about being a moor(black) and his fair wife who had suitors lining up to her for marriage. At a point Othello starts thinking “Haply, for I am black / And have not those soft parts of conversation / That chamberers have, or for I am declined / Into the vale of years,--yet that 's not much-- / She 's gone.”(Shakespeare 3.3.279-283) Othello starts comparing himself to other white mans and gains insecurities for who he is. Othello underestimates himself thinking he doesn’t know how to talk or behave properly in public because he was a slave and never had decent upbringing. Even though Othello knows Desdemona’s love for him, he lets Iago’s influence him into believing that Desdemona was sleeping with another man. This leads Othello to believe that Desdemona only loves men of fair skin and not a moor like him. Only because of his insecurity and blind trust in what Iago, Othello believes that his wife doesn’t love